What is leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is an infection caused by bacteria called Leptospira. These germs get into the environment when an infected animal urinates (pees). Leptospira germs live in wet or moist environments including water, damp soil, and mud that has been contaminated with urine from infected animals, especially rats and other rodents. Leptospira germs can make people and animals, including dogs, sick. If not treated, leptospirosis can cause serious disease that can be deadly.

​How can people get leptospirosis?

People can get leptospirosis if they have contact with urine from infected animals (especially rats and other rodents) or water, damp soil, or mud that is contaminated with urine from infected animals. Leptospira germs can get into a person's body through cuts or scratches in the skin or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. A person can also get sick if they swallow water that is contaminated with animal urine.

Leptospirosis does not spread from person to person. ​​

What are the symptoms of leptospirosis?

Most people who have leptospirosis either don't have symptoms or have only a very mild illness.

It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for symptoms to appear after contact with urine from infected animals or contaminated water or soil. Symptoms usually appear in two phases:

Early symptoms can last a few days or come and go and may include:

• Fever

• Chills
  

• Headache
  

• Muscle and body aches
  

• ​Nausea and vomiting
  

• Diarrhea
  

• Stomach pain

• Fatigue

• Red eyes
  

​​Later symptoms can be more severe and are usually the result of kidney, liver, or respiratory failure, or an infection of the brain (meningitis):

• Urinating (peeing) less than normal

• Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
  

• Difficulty breathing

• Severe headaches
  

• Stiff neck
  

Severe symptoms caused by leptospirosis can cause death.

Who is at greatest risk of getting leptospirosis?

People who have direct contact with urine from infected animals are at greatest risk of getting sick. This could include direct contact with rodents (especially rats) or water or soil that is contaminated with urine from animals.

Certain living situations, jobs, and activities are more likely to expose people to infected animals or water or soil that's contaminated with animal urine, especially in areas of the world where leptospirosis is more common: ​

The risk of getting leptospirosis is especially high after heavy rains and floods that can wash animal urine and contaminated soil into areas where people are living.  

Learn more about leptospirosis after natural disasters like hurricanes or flooding.

People who have symptoms of leptospiro​sis and have had contact with rodents, urine from possibly infected animals, or contaminated water or soil should see a healthcare provider.​

How is leptospirosis treated?

Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics. People who have severe symptoms may need to be hospitalized for more aggressive treatment such as IV antibiotics.

Early testing and treatment is important to help prevent severe disease. ​

​How can people prevent leptospirosis?​

The best way to prevent leptospirosis is to avoid contact with infected rodents (especially rats) and anything that could be contaminated with urine from infected animals – this includes:

• Staying away from places infested with rodents

• Protecting your skin from contaminated water, soil, and body fluids (including urine) from animals

• Washing your hands often with soap and water  
  

Other prevention steps can help protect you during outdoor activities and where you live, work, stay, or travel, especially in areas of the world where leptospirosis is more common:

Protect yourself where you live, stay, or travel

• Keep rodents out of places where you live or stay.
  

• Keep food for people and pets in sealed containers to keep rats and other rodents away.
  

• ​Learn more about how to seal up to prevent rodents.
  

• Clean and disinfect any areas that could be contaminated by rodents.
  

• Learn how to clean up after rodents safely.
  

• Be sure your drinking water is clean and safe to drink.
  

• Know where your drinking water comes from.
  

• ​Drink water that is boiled, bottled, or from a public water system.
  

• Practice good hand hygiene and wash your hands often with soap and water.
  

If you live in a place where it's difficult to control rats and other rodents, be extra careful to keep your hands clean, and cover any scratches, cuts, or sores on your skin with waterproof bandages.

Protect yourself where you work

If your job involves working where animals (especially rats or farm animals) could be present or infected, or where water or soil could be contaminated, be sure to:

• Wear gloves and other personal protective equipment (boots, eye protection).
  

• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth without removing your gloves and washing your hands first.
  

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment.
  

• Wash or shower after contact with animal urine, possibly contaminated water, soil, mud, or infected animals​.
  

Protect yourself during outdoor water activities

• Stay out of na​​tural bodies of water that could be contaminated with animal urine, especially ponds, lakes, creeks, swamps, and other natural bodies of water – especially when traveling in other states or countries. 
  

• You ​​might not be able to tell when water is contaminated, so before you swim or wade in water that could be contaminated, it's important t​o protect your skin:

• C​​​over any cuts or scratches on yo​ur skin with waterproof bandages.

• ​Wear protective cl​​othing and shoes or boots.

• ​​​​Keep your mouth and nose above the water surface, and do not drink or swallow water from natural bodies of water.

Protect pets from leptospirosis

• Do not let dogs drink from or swim in ponds, lakes, streams, or other natural bodies of water that could be contaminated.
  

• On outdoor trips and hikes, bring water for your dog that is either boiled, bottled, or from a public water system.
  

• Keep dogs away from animals that could be infected, especially rats.
  

• ​Do not let your dog eat, play with, or have contact with live or dead rodents, including rats.
  

Leptospirosis in Dogs

Like people, dogs can get leptospirosis by coming in contact with water that is contaminated with urine from infected animals. This can happen when dogs:

• Drink water from slow-moving or stagnant water sources, such as ponds, lakes, or streams

• Swim or play in water from ponds, lakes, and streams that could be contaminated ​
  

Dogs can also get sick if they come in contact with infected animals, including rodents, farm animals, or other dogs. This can happen:

• If dogs roam around on farmland or other rural property

• At dog parks or boarding facilities​
  
  

Signs in Dogs

Also like people, dogs who are infected might not look or seem sick. But symptoms can include:

• Loss of appetite

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Decrease in energy or alertness (lethargy)

• Drinking more water than usual

• Urinating (peeing) more than usual

• Weight loss

Disease can lead to kidney and liver failure. Dogs can get better if treated early with antibiotics, but severe disease can cause death.​​